! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Hello, Night! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

As the twilight hour strikes, I eagerly await the night. My heart beat never rises, Nor am I overcome with fright. As the darkness slowly creeps, And nature gives subtle cues to sleep; For once, I don’t pay heed, Just tune to my instincts. For the night is my friend, For me, it’s a Godsend. It’s the night alone that keeps Its appointment with me. Noiselessly it comes, as I wait We grin and make eye contact; Hug, hold and warmly embrace, I feel The presence of grace. Darkness, silence and night- My soul stirs and lights, I hear the sound of my breath, And stretch out on bed full length. At midnight, when grandfather clock Strikes a dozen times- ding dong, ding dong. I quietly take a blanket and turn on my side, Close my eyes, hesitantly… with a playful smile.